Air Quality Gains in Key Bihar Cities: State Air Quality Monitoring Committee Discusses Expanded City Clean Air Action Plan

Patna: In a pivotal move towards a cleaner and healthier environment, the 18th meeting of the Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC) was convened today at Aranya Bhawan, Patna. Chaired by Bandana Preyishi, Secretary of the Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Department in Bihar, the meeting centered on crucial discussions about the City Clean Air Action Plan and advancements under the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) and the Fifteenth Finance Commission.

The meeting placed particular emphasis on the proposal to formulate a City Clean Air Action Plan for remaining cities, aligning with the National Clean Air Program (NACS) recommendations by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

A significant highlight of the meeting was the positive report on improved air quality this year in the three major cities of Muzaffarpur, Patna, and Gaya compared to the previous year.

Key officials, including Special Secretary Kanwal Tanuj, Patna Municipal Commissioner Animesh Parashar, and Member Secretary of Bihar State Pollution Control Board S Chandrashekar, attended the meeting. The focus remained on addressing air quality concerns and evaluating progress made since the previous AQMC meeting.

The ongoing efforts highlighted during the meeting underscored collaboration with relevant departments and Municipal Corporations. Strategies to curb stubble burning, control vehicle emissions, and ensure proper waste disposal are being implemented diligently, aiming to sustain and further improve the air quality in the state.